Teachers, Youth Leaders and young people from Estonia, Hungary and Buckinghamshire visited Alfriston School as part of a European Union Erasmus+ funded project initiated by Bucks County Council Youth Service. The group were based at Woodrow High House, Amersham for a week of educational workshops, discussions and team building activities. The trip to the school provided a great opportunity for the visiting students to work collaboratively with year 11 pupils and for the visiting teachers and leaders to learn about some of the innovative approaches used at the school. The project entitled ‘Unite Ambassadors for Peace and Cohesion’ aims to develop young leaders who will act as ambassadors for community cohesion in schools and with youth organisations across Europe. In this initial phase of the project training materials for the future young ambassadors are being developed with the input of young people. Following pilot studies later this year the initiative will be launched at a number of international conferences in Autumn 2019.

Safer Internet Day 2018 will take place on Tuesday 6th February with the theme ‘Create, Connect and Share Respect: a better internet starts with you.’

Celebrated globally and coordinated in the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre the campaign sees hundreds of schools and organisations join together to raise awareness of online safety issues and run events and activities right across the UK.

As a result of this collective action Safer Internet Day 2017 reached 3 million children and 2 million parents across the UK.
Join the campaign to make Safer Internet Day 2018 the biggest yet!

Plans for 6th February
On the day, the campaign will create a huge buzz right across the UK and globally!
There will be national youth events, activities in schools across the UK, media coverage, a day of trending on social media, companies will spread the word to customers and employees, as we all aim to reach as many children and families across the UK as possible.

Here at Alfriston, we have decided to show our support for a positive Internet by wearing a ribbon in our hair that day, any colour will do. We will also be undertaking activities in school to explore our ideas of what a better Internet might look like and we urge all of our parents, friends and supporters to create, connect and share positive messages and use of technology. Also look out for a recent edition of Digital Parenting magazine coming home full of helpful advice and articles.

Together we can make a positive difference
As a result of hearing about Safer Internet Day 2017, an evaluation found that the majority of children spoke to their families about staying safe online while 79% felt more confident about what to do about any worries online. As a result of the day, 1 in 4 young people said they spoke up about something that had been worrying them online.

Together we can make #SID2018 the biggest campaign yet and make a real difference to the digital lives of children right across the UK.
Find out more and get involved! www.saferinternetday.org.uk #SID2018

Every kid around the world gets nervous when going to secondary school, no matter how cool or how confident they are. There is always a low point at that stage in life, but you don’t have to worry because this is a blog that is likely to answer all your questions, and all you have to do is read it.

Always try your best not to worry because big worries turn into lots of little worries that make things worse. You can ask anyone for advice or a little comfort to help you on your way.

It’s always ok to ask where you are if your lost or how things work when your confused. You could always ask a nearby teacher or if you’re feeling quite confident another student. Besides what is the worst that can happen?
The exiting thing about secondary school is all the new experiences. You never know what great things the school has in store for you!

Top Tips

Always ask where the toilets are first or else…

You don’t have to rush about making friends, it’s a good idea to let it happen naturally

You don’t have to be cool when making friends people will like you for who you already are

Always put your name on EVERYTHING you take with you, it’s so annoying losing something on your first day

Golden tip: I would encourage you to be friendly

The Linking Network has developed a carefully designed school linking process which has been used across the country since 2007.

There is a local linking project in Buckinghamshire which uses this linking model and resources with local facilitators to bring together Bucks schools and pupils who might not otherwise meet. We are delighted to be involved this year. Here at Alfriston, our Y9 pupils have been paired with Beaconsfield High School and we are working together on an anti-bullying project.

We recently held our initial meeting at a neutral venue to get to know each other a little first, having previously exchanged letters. We are grateful to the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield for hosting us. The girls from both schools took part in a variety of activities and soon overcame their nervousness and began chatting eagerly. By the end of the session they were already planning and looking forward to the next meeting.

Next, we are hoping to take part in a performance and workshops around anti-bullying and we are delighted to host this at Alfriston. Later, in the summer term, we will spend a day together at Beaconsfield High.

All vehicles are heavy and hard and can hit and hurt people. At higher speeds they cause more damage. At higher speeds, a driver has less time to react if a child steps out in front of them. They are more likely to hit that child and will hit them harder. Fast traffic is dangerous, frightening, noisy and polluting. It makes roads unwelcome and puts people off walking and cycling.

You can read all the facts about road speed in this handy fact sheet or watch this video to gain a better understanding of why speed matters.

Meanwhile don’t forget the importance of being bright and being seen in these long dark nights of winter. We are selling reflective items in the kiosk.

DON’T forget that it is nearly time for the Christmas Bazaar on Friday 1st December. There will be lots of fun events and games plus opportunities to buy lovely Christmas presents for mums, dads and grandparents.

There will also be some amazing festive foods or the famous Alfriston Hampers to try and win.

Odd Socks day will take place at Alfriston on Friday 17th November or, as we like to call it, Friendship Friday. There is no pressure on the children to wear the latest fashion or for parents to buy expensive costumes. All they have to do to take part is wear odd socks to school, it couldn’t be simpler!

You do not have to raise money to take part – the most important thing is the message of Odd Socks Day – it’s an opportunity for children to express themselves and appreciate individuality and uniqueness! Please encourage your daughter to wear odd socks (for one day only!) to show her support for friends and her commitment to Anti Bullying Week.

And make sure you are safe on the roads by dressing to be seen – wear light, reflective clothes or carry a lamp or torch so that drivers and your responsible adult can see you. You can buy reflective badges and clips from the kiosk at school (prices range from 60p to £1.40)

Once again the School Council has voted to support the Love in a Box campaign.

Your daughter will have been given a leaflet to explain what this is and how it works. If you haven’t seen it you can download the leaflet here. Schools, churches, other organisations and individuals collect and pack items into shoeboxes for the Mustard Seed Relief Mission to send to under privileged children throughout Eastern Europe. They have sent on average 40,000 boxes each year and each one is individually received by a child.

There are two ways for you to get involved:

You can create your own gift box;

or

you can donate something for a class shoebox (your daughter will tell you what age group her pastoral group has decided to support).

You can see some ideas for what to send in as your contribution in the list below:

Alfriston School is raising vital funds for Buckinghamshire Mind on World Mental Health Day, 10th October, by donating the takings from the kiosk that week.

To help pupils understand the issues and to support their wellbeing, Buckinghamshire Mind will be delivering a uniquely designed mental health awareness assembly.

Mental health problems affect about 1 in 10 children and young people, which is as many as three children in every class. However, 70% of children and young people who experience a mental health problem have not had appropriate interventions at a sufficiently early age.

Buckinghamshire Mind aims to address this by raising awareness of mental health within schools, promoting mental health wellbeing for children and tackling stigma by helping children to understand what a mental health problem is and to talk about mental health.

Buckinghamshire Mind provides a range of services for schools to support mental health wellbeing.
Look at these positive comments made by children and young people in schools who have benefited from the Peer Mentoring in Schools Service:
“This service gives you confidence to be who you are in a safe and accepting environment.”
“It gives people a place to talk and be comfortable being themselves. It’s also very fun and helpful.”
“I’ve loved having a safe environment to talk in and be free, to have a place of security is invaluable.”

Mental health problems can affect anyone, any day of the year. However, World Mental Health Day on 10th October, is a great day for schools, communities and individuals to show support for better mental health and for everyone to start looking after their own wellbeing.

To find out more about Buckinghamshire Mind and the mental health services it provides, please visit www.bucksmind.org.uk